Ingham County authorizes $100,000 for School for the Blind predevelopment and applies for $100,000 MSHDA collaborative grant

The Ingham County Board of Commissioners authorized two housing-related actions aimed at advancing development readiness and regional housing planning.

First, the Board approved a $100,000 Legislative Enhancement Grant agreement with the Ingham County Land Bank to fund predevelopment activities on roughly eight acres remaining at the former School for the Blind campus in Lansing. The funding is restricted to predevelopment tasks—environmental studies, soil borings, site plans, utility and storm drain investigation, and zoning coordination—intended to prepare the site for future housing projects targeted at households up to 120% of Area Median Income (AMI). The agreement timeline requires project completion by January 30, 2029, and the Controller/Administrator may make budget adjustments and sign grant documents after County Attorney review.

Second, the Board authorized applying for and accepting a $100,000 Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Collaborative Grant to be managed by the Ingham County Housing Trust Fund for a June 1, 2026–May 31, 2027 grant term. The Housing Trust Fund Committee plans to use the grant to fund a Collaborative Outreach Specialist position that will support the Region I (Ingham, Eaton, Clinton) Regional Housing Plan and collaborative efforts to increase housing production and assistance. The position will be funded primarily by the $75,000 grant with up to $35,000 in local housing millage match; the salary range for the ICEA County Pro classification is $54,424.93–$65,354.25.

The two approvals are intended to accelerate housing project readiness on a county-owned site and to increase regional capacity for housing production and collaboration. The Board adopted the Land Bank agreement as part of the consent agenda and approved the grant application and position creation via committee recommendation and roll call.